Coach Sharon Versyp talks about her team being left out of the NCAA tournament and looking ahead to the WNIT

Mike Carmin/Journal & Courier

WEST LAFAYETTE — Now it’s about turning the disappointment into an opportunity.

The Purdue women’s basketball team isn't part of the NCAA tournament field, marking the second time in the last four years the program has been left out the premier event. The Boilermakers are headed to the WNIT.

Andreona Keys of Purdue with a shot over Brandi Beasley of Illinois Wednesday, February 21, 2018, ...more

Andreona Keys of Purdue with a shot over Brandi Beasley of Illinois Wednesday, February 21, 2018, at Mackey Arena. Purdue defeated Illinois 64-51.

“Be ready to play each team,” senior Andreona Keys said Tuesday, one day after learning of the team’s postseason fate. “The WNIT still has great teams. Win it. That’s how you show them maybe you should’ve been in. You go and win the tournament.”

Keys called the mood in the locker room “terrible” after watching the other names of bubble teams appear during the selection show. Purdue was one of the first four teams left out of the tournament.

“We have to move on,” Versyp said. “The parameters and what (selection committee) tells you is nothing what happened (Monday) night at all.

“We’ve got to re-focus. We can still play, we can still play for a championship and like we’ve said, it’s a young group. It’s great to be on the road the first couple of games when we’re on spring break.”

If the Boilermakers win Thursday, they’ll play Ball State or Middle Tennessee in the second round either Saturday, Sunday, Monday or Tuesday.

Reaching the NCAA is always the first goal, and Versyp thought her team had the credentials to earn an at-large bid, especially when matched up against the other bubble teams.

Purdue thought it compiled enough solid wins — those against the top 50 in the RPI — to earn a bid. What may have hurt, though, was losing five of their last seven games and no marquee wins on the 14-game non-conference schedule, which included only one NCAA tournament team.

On Sunday, the selection committee announced the final eight teams under consideration for the last four spots in the NCAA tournament. Along with Purdue, Buffalo, Creighton, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Rutgers, Southern California and West Virginia were under discussion until the end.

Buffalo, Oklahoma, Minnesota and Creighton were included in the field of 64. The Sooners were the surprise team with a 16-14 overall record and only one quality (top 50 RPI) win all season, setting a bad precedent.

Journal & Courier Purdue insiders Nathan Baird and Mike Carmin and host Clayton Duffy discuss the Boilermaker men's draw in the NCAA Tournament. Also, a look at the Purdue women's program after it opts to hit the road for WNIT competition.

Nathan Baird/Journal & Courier

“I disagree with it. It’s hard to comprehend,” Versyp said. “We as coaches don’t know how to schedule. Every year, the committee does something different. There’s nothing consistent about it and it never makes any sense. They tell you all about RPI — that’s all the Big Ten has talked about. You do that and you don’t get any benefit whatsoever.

“Now I’ve learned I can play 295 and 260 (rated) non-conference schedule, so I will do that in two years. All you have to do is win games or you don’t have to win (against) anybody in the top 50 whatsoever and just have a strength of schedule of two and get in.”

During a conference call Monday night, committee chairman Rhonda Lundin Bennett tried to explain why the Boilermakers didn’t make the tournament but failed to offer any substance — or transparency — behind the reasoning.

"We felt for Purdue, they were 2-4 in that RPI 26 to 50 as well they had some losses in the 101 plus," Bennett said. "We looked at things like conference finish, conference records and those are some of the factors."

The Boilermakers have to put the disappointment aside if they plan to advance. If they’re thinking about not being in the NCAA tournament, they’ll likely be a quick out.

“We’re not going to these games to play one game and be done,” Keys said. “If we’re not going to try and get the trophy in the end, then we might as well not go and play the tournament. Go and be hungry to win. We’re disappointed, so we play like we are.”

Versyp said last week the school didn’t submit a bid to host WNIT games and the Boilermakers would play on the road throughout the duration of the tournament. However, she sent a different message Tuesday indicating there’s a chance Mackey Arena could stage a later round of the tournament.

“We could’ve hosted the first two and had maybe 400 people in the stands, which affects our attendance as well,” Versyp said. “We’ll try to host after that if we get past these two games. We had always planned if we could get through the first two we’ll try to host, if that would work out.”